THE PURPLE HERON. 
245 
south of Tenasserim from Mergui to Bankasoon, and Mr. Blyth gives it 
from Arrakan. 
It extends down the Malay peninsula^ and is found throughout the 
archipelago as far as Australia. Dr. Tiraud records it from Cochin China, 
where he states that it is not rare. 
This large Heron appears to be confined to the sea-coast and the mouths 
of the larger estuaries and rivers. 
An allied species (A. imignis) is found at the foot of the Himalayas, and 
I have received it from Bharao in Independent Burmah. It has the lower 
plumage white, and it is found inland, apparently never on the sea-coast. 
610. ARDEA PUEPUREA. 
THE PURPLE HERON. 
Ardea purpurea, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 236 ; Jercl. B. Ind. ii. p. 743 ; Hume, Nests 
and Eggs, p. 611 ; Salvad. Ucc. Born. p. 345 ; Bl. B. Burm. p. 159 ; Hume, S. F. 
iii. p. 190 ; Dresser, Birds Eur. vi. p. 217, pi. ; Oates, S. F. v. p. 167 ; David 
et Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 438 ; Hume 8f Dav. 8. F. vi. p. 472 ; Legge, Birds Ceylon, 
p. 1132; Anders. Yunnan Exped. p. 686; Hume, 8. F. vni. p. 114; Oates, 8. F. 
X. p. 243. 
Description. — Male and female. Forehead, crown, an occipital crest, a 
streak from the gape to the nape through the ear-coverts, a broad streak 
from the nape down the back of the neck, two narrow streaks one on each 
side of the neck from the gape and joining on to the streaked fore neck 
slaty black ; chin and throat white ; with these exceptions the head and 
neck with the lengthened plumes on the upper breast are chestnut, the 
lower half of the fore neck and the breast-plumes streaked with black and 
more or less whitish at the edges ; remainder of lower plumage a mixture 
of slaty chestnut and black ; lower half of hind neck, back, rump, upper 
tail-coverts, tail, quills and scapulars dark slaty ; the upper feathers of the 
scapulars long and pointed and chiefly chestnut ; upper wing-coverts ashy 
tinged with chestnut. 
The young bird has no crest and no lengthened plumes on the scapulars 
and breast ; the whole neck is spotted or streaked, and the feathers of the 
upper plumage are broadly edged with rufous. 
The nestling has the crown of the head, quills and tail lavender-brown ; 
throat and chin pure white ; sides of the head and the upper neck rufous ; 
lower neck rufous-grey, the feathers on the sides being centred with 
brown ; lower plumage rufescent, each feather more or less dark-centred ; 
thighs plain rufous ; upper plumage brown, each feather edged with 
rufescent, more especially on the scapulars and tertiaries ; upper and lower 
wing-coverts bluish brown, each feather broadly edged with rufous. 
